52nd Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 52nd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., on June 6–7, 1979, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

52nd Scripps National Spelling Bee
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The Mayflower Hotel, site of the 52nd National Spelling Bee. The competition moved to the Capital Hilton the next year.
DateJune 6–7, 1979
LocationThe Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
WinnerKatie Kerwin
Age13
ResidenceColorado
SponsorRocky Mountain News
Sponsor locationDenver, Colorado
Winning wordmaculature
No. of contestants109
PronouncerRichard R. Baker
Preceded by51st Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by53rd Scripps National Spelling Bee

Competition

Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, 13, of Colorado won the competition, spelling "maculature". Her brother Greg had been in the 1973 bee, and sister Mary in 1975.[1][2][3][4][5][6] She would later go on to become a TV commentator of the Bee once it began being broadcast on television. The competition saw Julie Won of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania run second, losing on the word "virescence".[2] She had taken third place the previous year. [6]

The competition had 109 contestants, a new record at the time, 63 girls and 46 boys, ranging from age 10 to 14. By the end of the first day, only 32 spellers remained.[4][6][7] The second day started with the completion of the seventh round, which eliminated six more.[4]

Richard Baker served as pronouncer.[8]

References
  1. "Scripps National Spelling Bee list of Champions and Their Winning Words". Archived from the original on 2012-11-17. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  2. Associated Press (June 7, 1979). "Spelling Bee is Won by Denver 13-Year Old". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  3. Associated Press (June 7, 1979). "Under A Spell (photos)". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  4. United Press International (June 6, 1979). "'Maculature' Is Winning Word". Daily Record (Washington). Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  5. Reader's Direst 1980 Almanac and Yearbook, p.690 (1980) (ISBN 978-0895770790) ("Katie Kerwin, 13, of Denver, won the National Spelling Bee by spelling "maculature" correctly")
  6. (8 June 1979). Spelling bee stumps many, but practice pays for champ, Lakeland Ledger (Associated Press)
  7. Grisham, Sharon (6 June 1979). Tri-State speller goes out in 5th round, Evansville Press
  8. Macino, Richard (7 June 1979). 'Cochineal' Spells End for Verona Student, Pittsburgh Press


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